School News

VIRTUE OF THE MONTH

The virtue of the month for June is Patience. It is such a fitting virtue at this time of the year not just for the students but for us educators and parents. It feels like it is go, go, go (for some of us it might feel this way all year round!) and that commitments and final preparations before the summer break comes keep piling up. The virtue of patience reminds us that all though we want to hurry up and get things done, or have things come, we need to rest in the watchful embrace of God. As we know from Elijah, we can’t find God in the noise, but in the silence “a tiny whisper sound”. When we are trying to be patient, it is good to stop and listen to the tiny whisper of God’s voice.

JULY 1ST TUITION

Just a reminder that the July 1st tuition cheque will deposited on July 1st. The next tuition will be the automatic P.A.D. dated October 1st, 2016.

END OF YEAR LETTER TO PARENTS

Dear Parents,

The last few days of school are upon us. Students are excitedly telling each other of their summer plans, and the school is busy organizing work to be done over the summer. We are also beginning our preparations for next year. As we look ahead, there are a few items that we believe to be of an important note to returning and new families.

Monday Morning Assemblies

We will continue with our weekly assemblies on Monday mornings. We found them to be a great opportunity to pray as a school, to pass along information, and to recognize students for their achievements. Assemblies are open to parents and we were happy to see a contingent of parents who attended many of our assemblies this year

Welcome Back Pancake Breakfast/First Day of School

Once again the Knights of Columbus are hosting a welcome back pancake breakfast for students and their families on the first day of school in the parish hall. We had almost 100% attendance from families last year and expect the same again!

Please make note of the start time. The breakfast will start at 9am and end at 10am. Kindergarten students will be called to class at 9:30am from the parish hall, while the rest of the school will head directly from the pancake breakfast at 10am to drop their items off at class and then outside for the flag raising ceremony at 10:15am. We hope that many families will be able to stay for the flag raising ceremony that will kick off our school year.

The first day is a half day and ends at 12:15pm.

Calendar

Our Calendar is now updated for the 2016-2017 school year. The school exclusively uses google calendar and events are added and changed throughout the year. It is best you add the calendar to your own so that you can see the updates as they happen. You can find our calendar under our “School Life” tab.

Uniforms

Uniform fittings at the school ends on Thursday June 23rd. This year marks the last year we will be allowing the old and the new uniforms to co-exist in the school. Starting next year, students will only be allowed to wear the new uniform. We are very pleased with the overall look and feel the uniform brings to the school.

Stingers Club

We already have a healthy amount of registrants for next year and we are expecting more before the start of the school year. The hours are from 7am – 8:30am and 3pm – 6pm school days (Wednesdays are 2:15pm – 6pm). For the half days during the school year, we are now offering the Stingers Club after school on those days.

The stingers club is open to all students. It offers fun activities and learning opportunities beyond the classroom. If you would like more information, please contact the office or download a form from our website (next year’s forms should be posted on the website by July 1st).

School Office

Our school office closes on July 7th, 2016. If you have any business with the office we ask that it be done before this date. The offices will re-open again on August 29th, 2016.

Parent Participation

Get a jump start on your hours this summer. We are in need of parents to help spruce up the school and get it ready for the first day of school. If this interests you or you would like to help out with other projects over the summer please contact Marc Fournier or the office.

Once again I would like to thank you for a wonderful year. I would like to wish you and your family a safe and blessed summer and I look forward to seeing you in September!

Yours in Christ,

Michael van der Pauw

BOARD GAMES

The Stingers Club is looking for very gently used board games and children’s DVD’s. If you have any, please drop them off at the office.

STINGERS BASKETBALL CAMP – Last day to register is Friday June 24th!

St. Bernadette School is proud to team up with Roundball Basketball to offer students a one week basketball camp. The camp is open to students who are currently in grade 4-6. It will take place at our school gym from July 4th – 8th, 10am – 1pm. Registration is $65.00 and includes a daily snack, reversible Roundball jersey, and a basketball for use at the camp and to take home. Registration forms went home with your child on Monday. You can download your form here or pick one up at the office.

STINGERS VOLLEYBALL CAMP – Last day to register is Friday June 24th!

This summer, St. Bernadette School will be offering a 2 week session for beginners and intermediate volleyball players. The camp is open to current grade 5 and 6 students. It will focus on developing and improving player skills. Registration is $100 and runs from July 20th – 22nd and July 24th – 29th. If you would like register, please contact Marlo Gelilto at mar log@telus.net or Emma Isip at diwalyu@yahoo.com.

End of Year School Prayer

O God of all beginnings and endings,
We praise and thank you for the gift of this school year.
It has been a time filled with grace and blessings,
With challenges and opportunities, joys and sorrows.

The days have passed quickly, O Lord.
The weeks, months, seasons, holidays and holy days,
The assessments, vacations, breaks, and assemblies,
All have come forth from your hand.
We trust that your purposes have always been at work each day.

Give us the rest and refreshment we need this summer.
Let our efforts of this past year bear fruit.
Bring all of our plans to a joyful conclusion,
And bless us, according to your will,

With the fulfillment of our summer hopes and dreams.
Watch over us in the weeks of rest ahead,
And guide each day as you have done this past year.
Help us return to St. Bernadette’s with a new spirit and a new energy.

May we continue to grow
In age, wisdom, knowledge and grace
All the days of our lives.

Amen.

REMINDERS

APPLICATION FOR NEW FAMILIES

We are currently accepting applications for new families. The response from new families that have already applied has been extremely positive. Many of the families have applied due to the positive and affirming feedback they have received. All of the families we have interviewed are very excited to join our community and are eager to get involved.

We are very thankful to have such amazing families in our school. Thank you for sharing your experiences with your families, friends, co-workers, and neighbours. It makes us stronger as a community and it ultimately benefits the education of your child and the new families that join us.

If you know of someone who would benefit from having their child(ren) at our school, please have them contact us or direct them to our website to download an application form.

ST. BERNADETTE SCHOOL HAS LIMITED SPACES LEFT FOR 2016-2017!!

Thank you to everyone for sharing with families how wonderful our school is and promoting it within our parish and wider community. We are constantly receiving inquiries into our school and have registered more children since our registration push in April then in previous years. A full complement of students is beneficial to everyone and allows the school to grow in areas that will promote excellence in learning for all students. We hope you continue to support and share our school with family, friends, neighbours and those in our community!